The last week in rugby union

Missed anything? Catch up with all the news from the last week in rugby union

Monday 13th July

Bristol RFC are ‘very pleased’ with the way the Wales and Lions centre Gavin Henson is doing with his rehabilitation.
Bath boss Mike Ford has predicted a bright England future for former rugby league superstar Sam Burgess – starting at the World Cup in September.

Australia head coach Michael Cheika looks set to name Quade Cooper as his starting Fly-half for their Rugby Championship opener against South Africa’s Springboks.

Tuesday 14th July

Ireland suffered a scare in their World Cup preparations when winger Simon Zebo limped out of training with a knee injury whilst Skipper Paul O’Connell confirmed he will be retiring from international rugby after the World Cup.

Steve Hansen has selected winger Waisake Naholo to make his All Blacks debut against Argentina on Friday night while Crusaders veterans Richie McCaw and Dan Carter will start in their final Christchurch Test.

Wednesday 15th July

Argentina have named winger Santiago Cordero, No.8 Facunda Isa and lock Guido Petti Pagadizab to make their Rugby Championship debuts in tournament opener against the All Blacks in Christchurch on Friday.
Thursday 16th July

Quade Cooper remains tight-lipped on his future plans, saying only that his immediate focus is purely on the Wallabies.

Friday 17th July

Skipper Richie McCaw scored a try and stand-off Dan Carter kicked 14 points in their last home Test in Christchurch as New Zealand beat Argentina 39-18 in the opening match of the Rugby Championship.

World Rugby says it is “extremely disappointed” that Japan’s new National Stadium will not be ready to host games at the 2019 World Cup.

Wales prop Rhodri Jones will miss the start of the Rugby World Cup and could be sidelined for the entire tournament.

Saturday 18th July

New Zealandwinger Waisake Naholo has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup after suffering a broken leg on his Test debut.

Tevita Kuridrani scored a last-gasp try to give Australia a 24-20 win over South Africa in the Rugby Championship clash in Brisbane.

Samoa have held off a valiant comeback by the USA to take a 21-16 win in their Pacific Nations Cup clash today.
Japan, warming up for the Rugby World Cup, launched their Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a 20-6 victory over Canada.

Fiji came from behind to beat Tonga 30-22 in a bone-jarring Pacific Nations Cup encounter in Suva on Saturday.
Sonny Bill Williams and Dan Carter are the two high-profile omissions from the 31-man All Blacks squad named today to travel to South Africa.

Sunday 19th July

Following Saturdays win over South Africa Quade Cooper will snub an approach from Toulon, and claims that the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is set to confirm he will stay in the country on a four-year deal.

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